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ECO E61Semi-closed game

King's Indian Defense

Let White build the centre: it will become a target

  • Fianchetto
  • Sharp play
  • Closed centre
  • Hypermodern

Black lets White occupy the centre with d4, c4 and e4 while building up the g7 bishop and waiting. Then comes …e5, and the centre is under pressure. The position closes and the fight spreads to opposite wings: White goes on the queenside, Black on the kingside. That is why King's Indian games are so sharp: both sides play to win and risk losing.

Interactive Opening Board

8…Ne7

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Black
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♔
White
8…Ne7
Speed:

Moves

(16 plies • 8 moves)
8…Ne7Tabiya

The knight heads for g6 and prepares …f5. The attack on the white king begins.

  1. 1–8moves
  2. 1.
  3. 2.
  4. 3.
  5. 4.
  6. 5.
  7. 6.
  8. 7.
  9. 8.

Defining move

6…e5! — a strike at the centre

The move that turns the waiting King's Indian setup into a fighting one

While Black merely waited, White built a centre. …e5 starts the pressure: the g7 bishop and the e5 pawn hit d4, and White must decide what to do with the centre. In the main system White closes it with d4-d5, and the battle moves to the wings.

Tabiya

The Mar del Plata position

The main position of the King's Indian. The centre is closed and both kings are safe. White advances on the queenside with c4-c5 and opened lines; Black goes on the kingside with …f5, …f4 and …g5. Since both plans are fast, a mistake is costly: the side one move ahead wins.

The centre

A closed centre and a wing race

The d5 and e5 pawns lock the centre. White has the edge on the queenside (c4), Black on the kingside (f7, g6, h7).

Key squaresd5e5f4

Outposts

  • g7The heart bishop

    The bishop is blocked by its own e5 pawn, but once lines open it becomes Black's key piece.

  • f4The spearhead

    A pawn on f4 cramps White's kingside and opens the road for the g7 bishop and queen.

Thematic breaks

  • f5Black

    The …f7-f5 strike

    Open the f-file and launch the attack on the king.

    What follows: If White is not ready, the king comes under fire from all of Black's pieces.

  • c5White

    The c4-c5 advance

    Open the queenside and gain space.

    What follows: Black has to answer fast: the race decides.

  • b5Black

    The …b7-b5 jab

    Distract White from the attack and open a file on the queenside.

    What follows: A backup plan when …f5 does not work.

White’s plan

  • Play on the queenside: c4-c5, then b2-b4 and open lines.
  • Guard the king against …f5: Ne1, Nd3, f2-f3.
  • Do not let the g7 bishop break free.

Black’s plan

  • Attack on the kingside: …f5, …f4, …g5.
  • Use the g7 bishop once lines open.
  • If needed, counterplay with …b5.

History

In the 1930s the King's Indian was thought dubious. Its reputation was restored by Soviet masters, above all David Bronstein, and then Tal, Fischer and Kasparov made it a favourite weapon. Today it is played by Nakamura and Radjabov.

Legends who played it

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